ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Aims of the present study are to examine the effects of atorvastatin administration and the influence of membrane flux on adhesion molecules expression on monocytes. METHODS: We studied CD11b, CD18 and CD62L expression on monocytes (flow cytometry) in 32 patients, 16 on low-flux (LFD) and 16 on high-flux (HFD) polysulfone hemodialysis, before and after dialysis and also after administration of atorvastatin 20 mg/day for 6 months. RESULTS: After hemodialysis, expression of CD11b and CD18 increased and expression of CD62L decreased. After atorvastatin administration there was a decrease in pre-dialysis monocyte expression of CD11b and CD18, and an increase in the expression of CD62L compared to pre-dialysis baseline values. There were no statistically significant differences in expression of all three molecules between LFD and HFD groups. CONCLUSIONS: Polysulfone dialysis process activates monocytes irrespectively of the membrane flux. Atorvastatin use is associated with reduced monocyte activation.
Subject(s)
Cell Adhesion Molecules/biosynthesis , Heptanoic Acids/therapeutic use , Monocytes/immunology , Pyrroles/therapeutic use , Renal Dialysis/methods , Adult , Aged , Atorvastatin , CD11b Antigen/biosynthesis , CD18 Antigens/biosynthesis , Cross-Over Studies , Female , Humans , Kidney Failure, Chronic/metabolism , Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy , L-Selectin/biosynthesis , Male , Middle Aged , Polymers , Renal Dialysis/instrumentation , SulfonesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The inflammatory status is a well-documented factor influencing the development of oxidative stress in dialysis patients. This study intends to evaluate the inflammatory activity and the plasma levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and lipid peroxidation products in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD), by comparison with hemodialysis (HD) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Plasma concentration of TAC, lipid peroxidation products and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in 24 patients on PD, 32 HD patients (pre and post treatment) and 16 normal controls (NC). RESULTS: All patients had higher levels of TAC and lipid peroxidation products than NC (p < 0.001). Patients on PD, had similar levels to patients before HD but significantly higher (p < 0.001) than those post HD. The CRP concentration was higher in HD than in PD patients (p < 0.05). The percentage of patients with CRP > 10 mg/l was 48% in HD patients and 21% in PD patients. No correlation was observed between CRP and TAC nor CRP and MDA levels. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that although PD and HD patients show an equal susceptibility in oxidative stress, CRP levels are higher in HD patients and this is indicative of a higher degree of inflammatory activity in these patients.
